Method of making chain-links and similar articles.



F. G. BREUL. METHOD OF MAKING CHAIN LINKS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES.APPLIOATION FILED JAN 23, 1911.

1,034,867, Patented Aug. 611912.

we G

W/WENTOR WITNESSES FREDERICK G. BREUL, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT.

METHOD OF MAKING CHAIN-LINKS AND SIMILAR ARTICLES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK G. BREUL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented a Method of Making Chain-Links and SimilarArticles, all as disclosed by the following specification.

My invention consists in the method I employ for securing together theend portions of the wire from which the link is formed.

This new method can be applied to the making of all shapes of weldedchain, but is especially useful in making short link twisted chain, suchas is used in anti-skidding devices for automobile tires.

The advantage gained by a chain constructed of links according to mymethod over hand or electrically welded chain consists preeminently inits much greater tensile strength and in the absolute uniformity of thelinks. By special machinery designed for the purpose and in process ofconstruction continuous chain composed of such links can be manufacturedrapidly and at very small cost for its production.

I will now explain my invention and give a full description of theprocedure of mak ing such chain links.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are oppositeviews of a short chain according to my invention. Fig. 3 is an end viewof an opened link, and Fig. 4 shows a link spread apart sidewise. Fig. 5illustrates how a link is shaped before being subjected to theinterlocking process. Fig. 6 represents a link of broader dimensions,and Figs. 7 and 8 show how a useful link of the common fiat metal kindcan be formed from wire by the aid of my invention. In Fig. 9 is shown alink having its wire ends extended and locked within the aperture, andin Fig. 10 a ring and in Fig. 11 an S hook, all of which being providedwith my interlocking feature according to my process.

To construct a chain link according to Figs. 1 to 6, a wire blank isbent at its center to form a loop A, converging sides B, B, and hookshaped end portions C, C, crossing above each other on their return bendas seen in Fig. 5, the wire ends extending beyond the crossing. Thedouble layer of wire within the crossing contact is then subjected to aheavy pressure between suitable dies,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 23, 1911.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

Serial No. 604,216.

and thereby flattened and reduced to the thickness of one wire diameter,more or less. At the same time the crossing portions become embeddedinto each other by reason of coinciding recesses D, D, being formed ontheir inner faces. By the same process the outer faces of the crossingportions are flattened, as shown at E, E, and the wire portions thustreated become very hard by such operation, imparting great strength andresistance to the locking device.

For the proper construction of narrow links, Figs. 1 to 5, the wire endsmust be chamfered sidewise as plainly shown at F, Fig. 5, so that thelocked link end may not be spread apart too far by the swagingoperation. These extreme wire ends, whether thus chamfered or not, as inthe case of broader links, are not affected at all, however, by theoperation producing the locking recesses D, D, and the material 1n theseends remains unchanged and unbent and of the original thickness, as willbe plainly seen at G, G, Figs. 3 and 6 and also in Fig. 10.

Up to the present time the production of recesses in the end portionsof'chain links and similar articles was accomplished either by cuttingaway the material necessary therefor, or by consecutively flattening,twisting, locking and compressing the ends, or by sinking recessesseparately into each end portion by means of correspondingly shapeddies. Only after such separate operations was the folding of the linkcompleted and the ends forced together and locked. By the method hereindisclosed by me, the locking features of both ends are produced by asingle final operation after the shape of the link was completelyformed. It will also be observed, that the locking impres sions D, D,formed by the action of the crossing wires upon themselves during theircompression, do consequently fit minutely and faultlessly into eachother, a feature that can not be obtained by any other known operationor tools. It will be noted that an extremely safe and absolutely perfectlooking of the wire is accomplished thereby, as well in the direction ofthe tensile strain of a completed chain, as inwardly against a pressureexerted on both outer sides of the link, and also against an openingpressure introduced inside against both end bows. By speciallyconstructed tools, however, such links may be spread apart to formrepair links, as represented in Fig. 3, and perfectly closed and safelyinterlocked again by a pressure or blows on the outside of loop A. Thesame construction and features apply to the broader link shown in Fig.6, except that the wire ends require but little or no chamfering at all.

As shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings, links of such otherdescription and shapes may be formed, arranged and secured in accordancewith my process and invention, as well as the ring shown in Fig. 10. TheS hook, Fig. 11, contains four locking recesses, two near the wire endsand two on opposite sides of the central shank. The unaffected Wire endson such links or attachments may be left as short as admissible for thepurpose, or may be of any desirable length beyond the crossing with itsrecesses.

Having thus described my invention and the process connected withit,Ihereby claim:

The herein described method of forming a chain link, consisting inshaping a link blank and crossing the end portions thereof, and thencold pressing the crossed portions together with sufficient pressure toflatten the outer sides thereof and to produce coinciding recesses onthe inner ormeeting faces of the crossed portions.

FREDERICK G. BREUL.

Witnesses:

FRED l/V. NIEMEs, FREDERICK A. WOLFRAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

